Electrically-operated plow.



No. 677,247. Patented June 25, I90l.

' '6. MEISSNEB.

ELECTRIGALLY OPERATED PLOW.

A u uon ma n, 81, 1000.

(No Nodal.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CONRAD MEISSNER, OF FRIEDRIOH-SBERG, GERMANY.

ELECTRICALLY-O PERATED PLOW.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 677,247, dated June 25, 1901.

Application filed December 3], 1900. Serial No. 41,675. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CONRAD Mnrssnnaa subject of the King of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing at Friedrichsberg, near Berlin, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire of Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Plows, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The system of driving plows with two engines presents great advantages overall other plow-traction systems as well if the plows are electrically operated as if the same are actuated by steam-power. These advantages of the system with two engines over the singleengine system are, first, that the weight of machinery is reduced; on the second hand, that poweris saved; third, that the apparatus can be moved more easily as well during its setting up as while the same is working. The weight is very much lowered, owing to the fact that said weight is distributed over two n1otorcars. In the single-engine system the motor-car is much heavier than the machine used in the system with two engines, because two cable-drums and a triple cable are used. On the other hand, the car is much more strongly built in the single-engine system, because the same has to support the additional tension of the inactive cable and to stand the motion of the anchoring-carriage. Now the saving of power of the system with two engines with regard to the single-engine system is according to practical tests of at least thirty per cent. This saving of power is due to the fact that in the single-engine system about five hundred meters more of cable are used; further, that friction is produced in the cable-drum of the anchoringcarriage and by the motion of said anchoring-carriage effected by said cable drum. During the setting up of the apparatus the greater freedom of motion of electricallydriven plows is especially proved by the fact that the second engine without direct power being used and without any auxiliary current-line--this is owing to the wire connection between the power-station and the field can be transported to its actual station of working.

During the working the object of the present invention shows also the advantage that the two motor-cars can be moved independently from one another, because each one is provided with a separate current-supply. The pulling of a plow-cable having a length of one thousand meters by horses is not necessary at all, according to the present inventions object.

Until now the system with two engines possessed the disadvantage that each motor-car cannot be moved independently from the other only with the help of the wire connection between the power-station in relation with the field--that is, without auxiliary power or auxiliary current-line.

According to the present invention in order to avoid the disadvantages which have been connected until now with the system using two electrically-operated engines two motor-cars are used, the one of which during the plowing-work proper is directlyconnected to the main of the power-station, the other motor-car, on the contrary, being connected by means of a cable or current line disposed on the field between the two motor-cars in a parallel direction to the furrow of thefplow with the contact device of the first motorcar. While being transported to the-field which is to be plowed each motor-car independently from the other can, however, be brought into connection with the fixed main or line. It is not absolutely necessary to conduct the motor-cars directly below the fixed current-line, as said motor-cars can also be moved ata pretty great distance from samethatis,up to five hundred meters. In this manner itis possible in the plowing operation to save a rather great quantity of fixed currentline wire, because for a rather large district only one fixed current-line is necessary, the single wires being set apart at a distance of about two kilometers. This great saving or economizing of expensive wire is one of the principal advantages of the new system of transmitting the current to the motor-cars. Further,while transporting the 1notorcars one can pass at a rather great distance from the fixed main current-line good roads or ways which may eventually be found, theseroads or ways being used for bringing said motorcars to the working station.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the machine in operation. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the plow. Figs. 3 and 4 are diagrammatic views of the circuits.

The two motor-cars during the working stand at both sides of the field to be plowed. The motor-car situated in proximity of the main current-line g is provided with the conductor-drum e, the shaft or axis of which is parallel to the furrow traced by the plow, while the second motor-car,situated on the opposite side of the field, is provided with the conductor-drum f, the shaft or axle of which is vertical relatively to the furrow traced by the plow. From the main current-line g the diphase or triphase conductor a leads to the drum e. To the contact device of the latter the ends of the conductor leading to the second motor-car are connected in a suitable manner so that the current is not interrupted when the drum 9 is rotated. .The conductor 1) is led between the rollers or pulleys of a pivoted arm (I, disposedon the side of the tilting plow. The arm (Z is connected to the reciprocating plow insuch a manner that the conductor Z) lies always slack on the field. Owing to this disposition, the plow, which is pulled back and forth across the field by its tension-cable c, displaces the conductor I), situated near the tension-cable, always of adistance corresponding to the working breadth of the plow.

The setting in place-of the above-described plant for driving plows with two engines is effected in the following manner: The ends of the conductors on each of the two motorcars are suitably connected with the wires g. Now the two motor-cars move along the current-line on the field to be plowed independently from each other, the plow itself being connected with one of said motor-cars. On the field one brings the first of the two motorcars into its proper position or station. The conductor of the second motor-car is then disconnected from the main current-line and connected to the current-supply contrivance or trolley of the first motorcar. The second motor-car when no current-line leads to its station can also be brought into this station independently from the other, this being possible after the conductor of the second motor has. been connected with the current-supply contrivance or trolley of the first motor-car. Now the second motor-car can reach its station by using its own power independently from the main current-line to a distance of This, as will be readily underthis purpose no additional power is required.

After the second car has attained its proper station independently from the first one the loose or slack conductor 1), lying in a parallel direction to the furrow traced by the plow, which conductor is well insulated and properly strengthened, is brought between the rollers of the pivoted arm d. Now, the plow being connected to the tension-cable, the work can begin.

As according to the present invention not only the motor-car connected to the fixed current-line g, leading to the power-station, but also the second motor-car, standing on the opposite side of the field, receives its motive power from the samefixed current-line g. An auxiliary current-line for the second motorcar is no way necessary. Further, the second motor-car remains always independent from the first one during the whole plowing work. of a distance corresponding to the working breadth of the plow is operated in a simple and safe manner by the arm of the reciproeating plow that is moving backwardand forward.

The utilization of power whiclris at handfor example, of steam-generating plants ofdistilleries, starch-factories, brick-kilns, &c., and before all hydraulic motors--can be effected without d ifficulty for the plowing-work.

With the present invention is connected While the weight of a trically-operated plow only weighs about one .hundred and twenty-three hundredwei'ght. The costs of a steam-plow are of about seventeen thousand dollars, while the costs'of the second-named apparatus is only of about :five thousand six hundred dollars. with the new disposition it is not necessary Further,

to provide the working station with water and .fuel, and a very skilled engine-driver is not,

required, because for controlling motor-cars it is only necessary to turn by handa cranklever. :the plowing-work, the present invention al- :lows a better utilization of the fuel, because rather great stationary steam-engines can be Even if power is at hand for effecting,

used in the present case.

Having thus described my invention, what. -I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat ent of the United States, is

In a system of electric supply for electro- -motors of agricultural machines, the combi nation with a plow and its draft-rope, the arm d connected to the plow, of a motor-car, a reel mounted on a transverse of the car, contact devices for said reel, conductors wound on the reel and connected with said contact devices, and a main supply-conductor, a winding-motor on said car to which one end of the draft-rope is secured, connections leading The displacement of the conductor 1) from the said contact devices to said motor; although both receive their current from the 10 a second motor-car, a conductor-drum secured same fixed main conductor.

thereon with its axis at right angles to the In Witness whereoflsubscribe my signature length of the car, a conductor Wound thereon in presence of two Witnesses.

and connected With the contacts of the first- T named car, a reel on which the draft-rope is CON RAD MEISSNEBY Wound and a motor connected with said reel Witnesses: and conductor, whereby each motor-car is WOLDEMAR HAUPT, independently operated during the plowing IIENRY HASPER. 

